370 inmates struck down by salmonella at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/...wn_by__mystery_illness__at_Wandsworth_Prison/

BREAKING NEWS: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison

11:03am Thursday 17th September 2009

More than 370 inmates and prison staff have been struck down with a mystery illness at HMP Wandsworth, officials confirmed this morning.

Staff have been told to stay away from the prison while officials from the Department of Health determine the cause of the outbreak.

Staff arrived for their shift this morning only to be told to go home and wash their hands with antibacterial gel on the way out.

They were also informed that an inmate had died. However the Ministry of Justice said the death was unconnected with the outbreak.

One worried member of staff, who did not want to be identified, told the Wandsworth Guardian: ?Inmates have been complaining of being unwell since Tuesday. Yesterday many were just lying in their cells all day.

?The smell of diarrhoea was overwhelming on one of the wings. We came in this morning and were told to leave immediately. We heard 500 inmates had come down with it and that someone had died. Nobody seems to know what it is.?

A Prison Service spokesperson said: ?370 prisoners and a small number of staff at HMP Wandsworth have been taken ill with diarrhoea and sickness. Tests are being conducted by public health officials to confirm the nature of the outbreak.

?Prisoners from the prison will not be attending court today (Thursday, 17th September).

?The prison is dealing with this incident together with public health officials in line with standard procedures.?

Are you affected by the outbreak? Contact the newsroom on 020 8330 9531 or click here to email

 

[Shiloh]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Source: http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/...t_the_centre_of_prison_outbreak__claim_staff/

Dead inmate was on wing at the centre of Wandsworth prison outbreak, claim staff

12:54pm Thursday 17th September 2009


Sources at Wandsworth Prison claim the inmate who died from ?natural causes? was on the wing at the centre of the mystery virus outbreak.

A spokesman from the Ministry of Justice today said the death of an inmate was from natural causes and was unconnected to the illness, which has infected 370 inmates and a number of staff.

However, sources claim the death happened on the new arrivals E wing ? the wing which allegedly has the highest number of infected inmates.

The Prison Service has refused to confirm this but admitted public health officials have been sent in to determine the cause of the outbreak.

A source, who does not want to identified, said: ?The death - which the prison service says is from natural causes ? happened on E wing. This is the wing with the highest number of inmates falling ill.

?It spread so quickly, but I?m not surprised. E wing is where the inmates go when they first arrive at the prison.

?One of the first things they are given is their methadone. New inmates hold on to this in their mouths, spit it out and then sell it to other inmates so they get a ?double hit?.

?I?m not surprised a virus has spread so fast when inmates are passing drugs, mouth-to-mouth.

?God knows where else it has spread. Prisoners move from prison to prison as well as in between courts.?

A spokesman for the prison service refused to comment further on the incident.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Source: http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/4634999._Is_mystery_outbreak_swine_flu___say_prison_sources/

'Is mystery outbreak swine flu?' say sources at Wandsworth Prison

1:50pm Thursday 17th September 2009


Sources at HMP Wandsworth believe the mystery outbreak which has infected 370 inmates ?could be swine flu?.

Many inmates complained of flu-like symptoms days earlier before they began suffering from chronic diarrhoea, it has been claimed.

It is not yet clear what caused the illness. The Prison Service confirmed Environmental Health officers had been sent to the prison to determine the cause of the outbreak.

Staff who had not been at the prison for 24 hours were sent home on Thursday morning.

A source said: ?The first symptoms they had were flu-like ones. Inmates were complaining of feeling really achy and they had headaches. Then the diarrhoea started.

?I saw one inmate on Tuesday who looked dreadful. He was sweaty, white as a sheet and kept complaining that people weren?t taking any notice.

?The next day he was so ill he couldn?t leave his cell. That?s when I heard loads of other inmates had come down with it.

?I know someone who had swine flu about a month ago and their symptoms were the same. I wonder if it could be swine flu.?

The Prison Service refused to confirm what measures being taken to stop the spread of the illness, such as the restriction of visitation.

Earlier today a spokesman confirmed public health officials were going in to the prison to determine the cause of the outbreak.

 

[Hogweed]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

[EDIT: Duplicate ]

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/...tery_outbreak_swine_flu___say_prison_sources/

'Is mystery outbreak swine flu?' say sources at Wandsworth Prison

1:50pm Thursday 17th September 2009

comment Comments (0) Have your say »
Exclusive By Kerry McQueeney »


Sources at HMP Wandsworth believe the mystery outbreak which has infected 370 inmates “could be swine flu”.

Many inmates complained of flu-like symptoms days earlier before they began suffering from chronic diarrhoea, it has been claimed.

It is not yet clear what caused the illness. The Prison Service confirmed Environmental Health officers had been sent to the prison to determine the cause of the outbreak.

Staff who had not been at the prison for 24 hours were sent home on Thursday morning.

A source said: “The first symptoms they had were flu-like ones. Inmates were complaining of feeling really achy and they had headaches. Then the diarrhoea started.

“I saw one inmate on Tuesday who looked dreadful. He was sweaty, white as a sheet and kept complaining that people weren’t taking any notice.

“The next day he was so ill he couldn’t leave his cell. That’s when I heard loads of other inmates had come down with it.

“I know someone who had swine flu about a month ago and their symptoms were the same. I wonder if it could be swine flu.”

The Prison Service refused to confirm what measures being taken to stop the spread of the illness, such as the restriction of visitation.

Earlier today a spokesman confirmed public health officials were going in to the prison to determine the cause of the outbreak.

 

[Hogweed]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

I see no other news source is carrying this story at the moment. The one that is would seem to be highly credible though.

 

[alert]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

I think that news source must be the local newspaper in that area. We will see what develops over the next couple days. The lab results should be coming soon. This could be H1N1, or could also be some type of food poisoning, like E. coli.

 

[alert]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

And BBC picks up the story. No mention of the possible fatality. If the fatality is not connected to the outbreak, norovirus is possible as well.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8261532.stm

Courts hit by jail diarrhoea bug

About 20% of the prison population is suffering from the bug
An outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea at Wandsworth prison has led to severe disruption to court cases in London.

Some 370 inmates and "a small number of prison officers" have been laid low by the bug, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.

The source of the outbreak is being investigated by public health officials, who are carrying out tests.

Hearings have been hit at several courts including Southwark, Blackfriars and Inner London courts.

Wandsworth prison, in south London, is the largest prison in the UK, currently able to hold 1,665 prisoners.

 

[Hogweed]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

http://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/wandsworthcancel

VISITS TO HMP WANDSWORTH CANCELLED: 17TH - 20TH SEPTEMBER
17 September 2009

We have been informed by the prison that all visits to HMP Wandsworth have been cancelled today, Thursday 17th September, and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday also.

If you are a friend or relative of a prisoner in HMP Wandsworth and you had a visit booked, you can phone the prison's booking line on 020 8588 4002 for further information.

pact's visitors' centre at HMP Wandsworth will remain open, but no visits will be taking place.

You can contact our visitors' centre on 020 8874 4377 or wandsworth@prisonadvice.org.uk

Please watch this space for updates.

 

[alert]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Sounds like norovirus is suspected.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gGryx6CpemTfNHjvXve128d9IyOQ

Trial collapses over prison bug
(UKPA) – 58 minutes ago

The trial of three people accused of trying to warn off witnesses by making threats in a rap song has collapsed because of sickness in a prison.

The hearing at the Old Bailey had already been delayed two days after rap artist Ishmael McLean, 22, became ill. Judge Richard Hone discharged the jury and ordered a retrial at the end of the month after being told he could not be brought to court for fear that the illness would pass to prisoners from other jails.

McLean, 22, of Greenford, Rowan Simon, 18, of Ealing, and Ryan Esprit, 18, of Hanwell, all west London, deny perverting the course of justice. The court was told the song was placed on YouTube with links to MySpace and Facebook profiles following the shooting murder of Jason Johnson, 24, in Ealing, west London, last November. McLean is being held in Wandsworth Prison, which has suffered an outbreak of a tummy bug that has hit inmates and prison officers.
Copyright © 2009 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

 

[alert]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

http://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk..._outbreak____minimal_____says_Prison_Service/

Public risk of mystery outbreak at HMP Wandsworth ?minimal?
12:52pm Friday 18th September 2009

Comments (0) Have your say ?

By Kerry McQueeney ?


The Prison Service today said there was a ?minimal risk? of a mystery illness which swept through HMP Wandsworth spreading to the community.

The cause of the diarrhoea and sickness illness, which the Prison Service now says has infected 324 prisoners and a small number of staff, is still being investigated by public health officials.

Like yesterday, inmates are being kept away from court today and visitation has been cancelled to limit potential spread of the sickness.

A Prison Service spokesman said: ?As of Thursday evening, 324 prisoners and a small number of staff at HMP Wandsworth had been taken ill with diarrhoea and sickness.

?Tests are being conducted by local health officials to confirm the nature of the outbreak.

?Prisoners will not be attending court on Friday, September 18, and visits to the prison will not be taking place. This is a precaution to limit any potential spread.

?The prison is dealing with this incident together with local health officials in line with standard infection control procedures.

?We would like to reassure the public that there is minimal risk that this illness could spread from the prison to the community.?

The Prison Service yesterday revealed that 370 inmates and a ?small number? of staff became ill with diarrhoea and sickness.

Some staff arriving at the Heathfield Road prison for work on Thursday morning were told to go home.

Sources inside the prison claimed prisoners had been complaining of severe flu-like symptoms before suffering from diarrhoea.

They also claimed an inmate who died this week had been on E wing, which allegedly had the highest number of prisoners falling ill.

A Prison Service spokesman said the death was unconnected to the outbreak but refused to confirm whether the new arrivals E wing was at the centre of the outbreak.

The Prison Service has also refused to comment on whether the outbreak could be linked with swine flu.

Related links

 

[Hogweed]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

And yet if I search for wandsworth prison on twitter all I see is the same news story being repeated again and again about rampant drug use and mobile phones all over the prison - nothing about anybody being sick. I just wonder with all these mobile phones supposedly all over the prison if anyone is hearing from inside.

I guess someone doesn't want to panic other prisoners (or is that us all now) no matter what it is. I note the quote: "The Prison Service has also refused to comment on whether the outbreak could be linked with swine flu".

 

[Hogweed]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

http://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/wandsworthcancel

BACK TO NORMAL AT HMP WANDSWORTH
21 September 2009

All visits at HMP Wandsworth are back to normal today following the unexpected closure over the last few days.

Our visitors' centre is open as normal and you can reach us on 020 8874 4377 with any queries.

If you were unable to visit over the last few days because of the shutdown, you can contact the prison's booking line on 020 8588 4002 for further information.

 

[alert]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Norovirus. Definitely norovirus.

 

[alert]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Considering that the quarantine has been lifted, and no one else was hospitalized, this comment is bizarre, but I figured I'd post it anyway as it comes from someone with a family member in the prison.

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/..._of_prison_outbreak__claim_staff/?ref=mc#show

luvviedeary, Eltham London says...
2:46pm Sat 19 Sep 09

I write with regards to the "Mystery Bug" which has infected alot of the prisoners at Wandsworth Prison, not enough information is being given out to either the Media or Local Newpapers etc.,i have personally emailed 5 different National Newspapers for more information but all of them have not been delivered just returned to me..Why is this i ask myself? My Son is a Remand prisoner there and i have had 1 telephone call telling me whats going on in there for eg.,Staff have been given Face Masks for their Safety when inmates ask for them they have been refused as the "BUG" is not AIRBORN theyve been told, if this is the case why have the Staff been given them? Are our Sons n Fathers Health to be ignored,The Visits have been cancelled i have heard only from snippets from the internet,NO information is being relayed to anybody, if the Prison has been infected with The Swine Flu Virus we as parents and The General Public have a right to be told..but we are just being left in the dark.Please Please publish this piece i have written as i have nowhere else to turn to to give my point of view...From A Worried Mother of a Son on Remand at Wandsworth Prison...Thank you

 

[alert]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Re: 370 inmates struck down by 'mystery illness' at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

Not the agent I was expecting, but not H1N1 or anything very dangerous. Change the title of the thread.

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/...firm_salmonella_in_prison__mystery__outbreak/

Test results confirm salmonella in Wandsworth Prison 'mystery' outbreak
11:40am Thursday 24th September 2009

Comments (0) Have your say ?



Salmonella was behind an outbreak at HMP Wandsworth that struck down more than 370 inmates and staff, the Prison Service has confirmed.

Staff were sent home last Thursday and visitations were cancelled while officials from the Department of Health were sent in to determine the cause of the diarrhoea and sickness bug.

The outbreak brought London?s justice system to a standstill after all court appearances were suspended for inmates at the prison.

The Prison Service revealed on Tuesday that salmonella was detected in a number of samples taken from sick inmates.

Visitors were allowed back into the prison on Monday and by Tuesday just 20 inmates and staff were still suffering from illness.

A source, who did not want to be identified, told the Wandsworth Guardian: ?Inmates complained of being unwell [last] Tuesday.

?The first symptoms they had were flu-like ones. Inmates were complaining of feeling really achy and they had headaches. Then the diarrhoea started.

?I saw one inmate who looked dreadful. The next day he was so ill he couldn?t leave his cell. That?s when I heard loads of other inmates had come down with it.

?The smell of diarrhoea was overwhelming on one of the wings.?

A Prison Service spokesperson said: ?The prison is dealing with this incident together with local health officials in line with standard infection control procedures.

?We would like to reassure the public that there is minimal risk that this illness could spread from the prison to the community.

?As part of the investigation, a small number of samples were taken from to identify the cause of the illness. Of these, 14 have now been confirmed as salmonella.?

Meanwhile, the Prison Service has said the death of inmate Scott Marriott ? found in his cell - was unconnected with the salmonella outbreak.

Following a postmortem examination held on Friday, September 18, an inquest was opened and adjourned on Tuesday into the 37-year-old?s death.

His brother Paul Marriott told the Wandsworth Guardian: ?We need to find out what happened.

?His friend in prison, who was in a nearby cell, told us he heard him crying out in the night before he was found dead the next day.?

? Do you know more? Let us know by email

 

[alert]

Re: 370 inmates struck down by salmonella at Wandsworth Prison- 1 dead

And now a ProMed post.

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,79413

Archive Number 20090927.3378
Published Date 27-SEP-2009
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, prison - UK: (England)

SALMONELLOSIS, PRISON - UNITED KINGDOM: (ENGLAND)
*************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Thu 24 Sep 2009
Source: Your Local Guardian [edited]
<http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/4643638.Test_results_confirm_salmonella_in_prison__mystery__outbreak/>


Salmonellosis was behind an outbreak at HMP (Her Majesty's Prison)
Wandsworth that struck down more than 370 inmates and staff, the
Prison Service has confirmed.

Staff were sent home last Thursday [17 Sep 2009] and visitations were
cancelled while officials from the Department of Health were sent in
to determine the cause of the diarrheal illness. The outbreak brought
London's justice system to a standstill after all court appearances
were suspended for inmates at the prison. The Prison Service revealed
on Tuesday [22 Sep 2009] that salmonella was detected in a number of
samples taken from sick inmates. By then, just 20 inmates and staff
were still suffering from illness.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: "The prison is dealing with this
incident together with local health officials in line with standard
infection control procedures. We would like to reassure the public
that there is minimal risk that this illness could spread from the
prison to the community. As part of the investigation, a small number
of samples were taken from to identify the cause of the illness. Of
these, 14 have now been confirmed as _Salmonella_."

--
Communicated by:
ProMED Rapporteur Brent Barrett
<promed@promedmail.org>


[Wandsworth, in the London area, is the largest prison in the UK,
currently able to hold 1665 prisoners. Alongside Liverpool, which is
of similar size, it is one of the largest prisons in Western Europe
<http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/prisoninformation/locateaprison/prison.asp?id=474,15,2,15,474,0>.
The attack rate cannot be calculated with the information provided
but could be around 22 percent (370/1665). The serotype of _S.
enterica_ is not stated nor is there any information regarding the
possible food vehicle.- Mod.LL]

[see also:
Salmonellosis, serotype Typhimurium - UK: peanut butter, recall 20090128.0382
2008
----
Salmonellosis, serotype Agona - UK, Ireland (04): Sweden, France 20080819.2587
Salmonellosis, serotype Agona - UK, Ireland 20080805.2401
Foodborne illness, hotel - Italy (02): (Brescia), salmonellosis 20080626.1974
2007
----
Salmonellosis, serotype Enteritidis, hotel lunch - EU ex Spain 20071019.3415
Salmonellosis, hospital - UK (Scotland) 20070420.1293]
......................ll/ejp/lm